Trombone Shorty

Biography

Troy Andrews, known as Trombone Shorty, was born on January 2, 1986, in New Orleans, Louisiana, into a family steeped in the city’s musical traditions[1]. He began playing trombone at age four, inspired by his brother James, and quickly became a local sensation, leading his own band by age six and performing at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival as a child[1]. Growing up in the Tremé neighborhood, Andrews was immersed in brass band culture, participating in second line parades and absorbing a wide range of influences—jazz, funk, rock, hip-hop, and soul—that would later define his genre-blending style[1][3]. He attended the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA), a prestigious arts high school, and graduated from Warren Easton High School in 2004[1].

Andrews’ career took off in his teens as a member of the Stooges Brass Band, and he gained wider recognition after joining Lenny Kravitz’s horn section for a world tour in 2005[1]. He formed Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, a band known for its high-energy fusion of brass band rhythms, rock dynamics, and improvisational jazz[3]. Andrews has released multiple acclaimed albums, including Grammy-nominated Backatown (2010) and Blue Note Records’ Parking Lot Symphony (2017)[1][3]. Beyond performing, he is a dedicated music educator, founding the Trombone Shorty Foundation to nurture young musicians and preserve New Orleans’ brass band heritage[3][4]. His legacy lies in revitalizing traditional New Orleans sounds for contemporary audiences and inspiring a new generation of musicians.

Fun Facts

• Trombone Shorty got his nickname because he was so small when he started playing trombone in parades as a child[1][5].
• He made his film debut voicing the trombone sounds for adult characters in The Peanuts Movie (2015)[3].
• His illustrated autobiography for young readers, Trombone Shorty, was named a 2016 Caldecott Honor Book by the American Library Association[3].
• Andrews’ parents opened a nightclub called Trombone Shorty’s in Tremé, where he played as a child[1].

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Cyril Neville - Andrews calls Neville 'a second father' and credits him as a major mentor since his youth (N/A) [1990s–present]
• James Andrews - Older brother who gave Troy his first trombone and early musical guidance (12 & Shorty (2004)) [Childhood]

Key Collaborators

• Lenny Kravitz - Featured member of Kravitz’s horn section on a world tour (N/A) [2005]
• Orleans Avenue (band) - Bandleader and frontman of his own group, known for high-energy live shows (All Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue albums) [2000s–present]
• New Orleans Social Club - Member of post-Katrina benefit collective (Sing Me Back Home (2006)) [Mid-2000s]
• Little Big Town - Performed together at the 2016 Academy of Country Music Awards (Live performance of 'Stay All Night') [2016]

Artists Influenced

• Students at Trombone Shorty Academy - Direct mentorship through his foundation and music academy (N/A) [2014–present]
• Young New Orleans musicians - Inspires next generation through community engagement and education (N/A) [2000s–present]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Something Beautiful (Backatown)
2. Hurricane Season (Backatown)
3. Tripped Out Slim (Parking Lot Symphony)
4. Hold Up, Wait a Minute
5. Backatown (Backatown)
6. Cineramascope (Ya-Ka-May (Deluxe Edition))
7. 7-T's (Laid Black)
8. Vieux Carre (Say That To Say This)
9. Shortyville (Say That To Say This)
10. Overnight (feat. Trombone Shorty) (Uncaged)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #jazz, #jazz-funk